January 26, 2008 - A valiant second-half comeback fell just short for the Hillsdale College men's basketball team Saturday, as the Chargers lost their third straight game by less than six points.

Gannon University, entering the game ranked 15th in the nation, defeated the Chargers 80-75 before a season-high crowd of 702 at Jesse Philips Arena Saturday afternoon. Hillsdale is now 10-8 overall and 5-5 in the GLIAC after the loss. The Golden Knights are 17-2 and 9-1 in conference play.

Hillsdale outscored Gannon 42-36 in the second half, and played with heart and desire, but it wasn't enough to overcome a physically strong and athletic Gannon team, who seemed to score every timely basket when it needed to in crunch time.

A slamdunk by Gannon's Vince Mosely gave the Golden Knights their biggest lead of the game, 42-25, late in the first half. But the Chargers scored the final eight points of the half to cut the lead to a manageable 44-33 at intermission.

Hillsdale inched its way closer to the lead, culminating in a 62-61 Charger lead off two made free throws by senior Tim Homan. Each team had a hard time shaking off the other throughout the game's final 10 minutes.

A 3-pointer by Homan gave the Chargers a 75-73 lead with 2:17 left in the game. But it would be the last time Hillsdale would score, as Gannon pounded the boards and gave itself second and third chances to score as the game wound down.

Junior guard Keith MacKenzie scored a season-high 25 points on 9-for-15 shooting for the Chargers. He also had five rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes on the court.

Homan scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, and finished with six rebounds.

Kyle Goldcamp had a terrific game for Gannon, leading all scorers with 28 points, going 13-for-20 from the floor. He also had 12 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. Gannon outrebounded Hillsdale 36-28 in the game, and shot 51 percent as a team.

Hillsdale will host Tiffin University in a non-league game at 7 p.m. Tuesday.


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